Shoe-eyelet.



PATENTBD JULY 18, 1905.,

J. A. BAKER.

SHOE EYELET.

APPLIGATION FILED NOVA. 1904.

W/TNESSES- Mmmv a rnmw on. vl nruunmlwwxa WAS-mammal.

UNITED STATES Patented July 18, 1905.

JOHN A. BAKER, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN.

SHOE-EYELET.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 794,838, dated July 18, 1905. Application filed November 4, 190.4. Serial No. 281,352.

To all whom, it 111,04/ concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN A. BAKER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Milwaukee, county of Milwaukee, and State of Wisconsin, have invented new and useful Improvements in Shoe-Eyelets, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to shoe-eyelets.

The object of my invention is to provide a form of eyelet which may be substituted for the lacing-hooks heretofore used and which will not be twisted or bent out of shape when in use.

In the following description reference is had to the accompanyingdrawings, in which- Figure l is a perspective view of a shoe embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a detailed view, on an enlarged scale, of one of the eyelets, showing a portion of the leather of the shoe. Fig. 3 is a view of the same as seen from the under side. Eig. 4 is a sectional view drawn on line X X of Fig. 2.

Like parts are identified by the same reference characters throughout the several views.

A represents ordinary lacing-eyelets formed in the lower portion of the uppers or quarters of the shoe.

B represents eyelets similar in construction to the eyelets A, except that they are open on the upper side and a little in the rear of the vertical center line, as indicated at C. The eyelets are also formed with a downwardly and rearwardly extending tongue D, the extremity of which is tapered so that it can be passed through the leather and clenched on the under side, as indicated at E in Fig. 3. A metallic plate F is inserted between the outer leather facing G and the inner leather facing H of the quarter. This plate is provided with an opening I, registering with the eyelet-opening and cut away to correspond with the cut-away portion C of the eyelet, thus forming a passage leading upwardly and outwardly from the central aperture of the eyelet and aperture I of the plate F. The leather facings G and H are provided with an openended slot J, terminating in a somewhat bellshaped mouth K at the edge of the leather and terminating inwardly at the eyelet-aperture.

When a series of eyelets have been formed near the edges of the leather, as shown in Fig. 1, the intermediate portions of the leather between the slots J form a series of tongues L. In lacing up the shoe the lacing-cord is drawn through the slots J into the eyeletsI and then across the lacing-slit of the shoe to the eyelet on the other side, so that the cord passes under the lower portion of the tongue L and over the upper portion of the tongue. The cord will therefore press the portion M of the eyelet inwardly against the foot of the wearer and prevent it from being bent out of position. The intervening plate F reinforces the leather around the eyelet and prevents it from tearing out, while the rearwardly-extending tongue l) prevents the eyelet from turning in the leather and by its engagement in the leather under the rear edge of the plate F gives rigidity to the fastening.

I am aware that it has heretofore been attempted to provide the edges of the quarters with a metallic sheath having hook-shaped apertures formed to receive the cord on the under side; but my invention contemplates the use of eyelets similar to the eyelets A in ordinary use, but with apertures on the upper side and with rearwardly projecting tongues D to secure them in position. By my construction I am enabled to use an eyelet which can be applied in the ordinary way and with ordinary tools, and the shoe has the same appearance when laced as if the ordinary eyelets A were used throughout.

A further advantage of my improved construction is in the fact that the eyelets are so formed that the end portion M is held in position by the lacing-cord on one side and the foot of the wearer on the other, thus preventing it from being bent out of shape.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A shoe having slots extending in the uppers inwardly and downwardly from the edges of the lacing-slit; in combination with eyelets secured in the leather of the shoe at the inner ends of said slots, and provided with openings leading outwardly from the eyelet-aperture on the upper side to form a connecting- IOO passage between the slot in the leather and the eyelet-aperture.

2. A shoe having slots extending inwardly and downwardly along curved lines from the edges of the lacing-slit; lacing-eyelets secured in the leather of the shoe at the inner ends of said slots, said eyelets being each formed with an opening in their upper sides in the rear of its vertical center line, and arranged to permit the manipulation of the lacing-cord through the slot in the leather into the eyelet-aperture, said eyelets being also provided with downwardly and rearwardly extending tongues embedded and clenched in the leather of the shoe, and the material composing each eyelet being located at a material distance from the lacing-slit.

3. A shoe provided with lacing-eyelets each having an opening leading outwardly from the eyelet-aperture and connecting with a slot in the leather of the shoe leading to the lacing-slit; a metallic plate having an opening through which the eyelet passes; and a,slot corresponding with the opening in the eyelet. 4t. A shoe provided with lacing-eyelets each having an opening leading upwardly and outwardly from the eyelet-aperture in the rear of its vertical center line to a slot in the leather of the shoe leading forwardly from the eyelet to the lacing-slit.

In testimony whereoil I aiiix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JOHN A. BAKER. Witnesses:

LEvERETT C. WHEELER, JAS. B. ERWIN. 

